Germany opens labour market for skilled workers from non-EU countries.

New rules for the immigration of skilled workers to Germany will enter into force in early 2020. The new law extends the opportunities for qualified professionals from outside the European Union to come to work in Germany.

Before applying for a visa under the new rules, interested candidates need to obtain official recognition of their professional qualification from the competent German authorities. Information about the procedures can be found on www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de. Interested professionals should start these procedures early. This is possible even before the new regulations enter into force.

Further information is available here: There are two categories of skilled workers, those with professional training and those with academic training. Degrees earned abroad must be officially recognised in Germany. Skilled workers with professional training must have completed an officially recognised professional training programme, which according to German law must be at least two years in length. Skilled workers with academic training must have earned a degree from an institute of higher education. Skilled workers may take up a position only if it is considered qualified employment.

You may be issued a residence title for skilled workers that entitles you to take up employment:

• if your foreign degree or certificate* has been officially recognised;
• if you have already been offered a specific job offer – you must ask your future employer to fill out the “Declaration regarding a contract of employment” (Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis)**;
• if you have been issued written permission to exercise your profession (or if you have been expressly assured that you will receive this permission) and if you wish to work in a so-called regulated profession (e.g. in the health care sector);***
• if you meet the respective requirements for foreigners, e.g. a valid passport, secure means of support, etc.

Do not submit a visa application until you have met all of the requirements and are able to present a complete set of supporting documents. If your foreign degree or certificate has not yet been officially recognised, your visa application cannot be processed.

* If you have completed your professional training or higher education in Germany, then official recognition is not required. Different authorities are responsible for officially recognising foreign-earned degrees and certificates. For further information, please refer to:
- www.make-it-in-germany.com
- www.Anerkennung-in-Deutschland.de
- the hotline “Working and Living in Germany” (Arbeiten und Leben in Deutschland): +49 30 1815 - 1111
- Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen)
If you hold a degree from an institute of higher education and want to work in a non-regulated profession, confirmation that your degree is included in the anabin database may be sufficient. More information: https://anabin.kmk.org/anabin.html

** The required form is available here:

Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis

Zusatzblatt A zum Formular “Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis” (nur bei Visum zur Durchführung des Anerkennungsverfahrens)

The work must be subject to compulsory social insurance contributions in Germany. Special conditions apply to secondments.
*** Information on regulated professions can be found at www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de. The authorities that issue written permission to exercise certain professions also determine whether or not they officially recognise your degree or certificate.